How to Change Windscreen Wipers – A Guide

With the winter months fast approaching and adverse weather conditions on their way, ensuring your vehicle is prepared for all the joys of the season is important. Rain, sleet and snow are all part and parcel of winter, and your windscreen wipers play an integral role in maintaining the safety of both driver and passenger in the face of these.

Knowing when to change your windscreen wipers isn’t as difficult as people think. When in use, wipers past their prime will make a screeching sound and/or juddering movement as they sweep across the windscreen of your vehicle. The effectiveness of the wipers will also be impacted, with streaking commonplace. Upon inspection, windscreen wiper blades that were soft and flexible, will be hard and damaged, another indication that your wipers need swapping for shiny new ones. Wiper blades that no longer make contact with the windscreen should also be replaced.

Safe driving is of course a priority for every vehicle owner. Ensure damaged wipers don’t let you down this winter, keep your visibility high in the most challenging season and prevent the windscreen scratches caused by cracked blades by changing your windscreen wipers. Discover our step-by-step guide to changing your windscreen wipers here.

Remember preparation is everything

As with any vehicle maintenance must, changing your windscreen wipers requires a bit of prep work to do properly. Choosing the right replacement wipers for your vehicle is of course important. With a range of sizes and styles available, including conventional, flat and hybrid blades, selecting the right ones is also challenging. Your vehicle’s manual will provide vital information on the most compatible wiper choice. There are also online tools that specify sets based on your car make and model. Measuring the length and, where possible, noting the make of your existing wiper blades is also a great idea.

Getting started

Once you’ve found the wiper blades for you, turn off your vehicle, removing the key from the ignition. Lift your existing wipers up and away from your windscreen. Most windscreen wipers should lock in the upright position once they’re fully extended. Others must be locked manually by opening a locking tab or pushing down a locking button. You are then free to slide the wiper out of the wiper arm. Be sure that they are locked into an upright position as the arm flipping back at this stage could crack your windscreen.

Fit your new wipers

All that’s left to do is slide your new wiper into place within the arm. Again if you have locking buttons or tabs these should be used to click the replacement blade and arm back into place. The wiper can then be lowered onto your windscreen – it’s that simple!

Your windscreen wipers are a vital part of upholding driver and passenger safety all year round. Make sure you replace worn, damaged or out of date windscreen wipers before the winter months set in. Whilst keeping an eye out for the warning signs mentioned above is essential, as a rule of thumb your windscreen wipers should be replaced every six to 12 months to ensure optimal visibility.